rts of the low country, where, by a little well directed
inquiry, employment may be found for them, as was done by the
Glasgow 'Committee on Employment;' but in others it is quite
certain that emigration to the colonies may be safely and
beneficially managed. And the importance of this subject becomes
much greater when we consider, that so large a surplus remains of
the sum raised for the relief of distress there, the disposal of
which is at this moment a question of difficulty. I am so much
impressed with the truth of the last observation of Dr Boyter, as
applicable to certain districts of the Highlands, that I should
think it highly advisable to apply the greater part, or even the
whole, of this surplus of L115,000 to this salutary drainage of
the population. An equal sum might be advanced by Government, to
be gradually repaid, just as in the case of assistance given to
proprietors by the Drainage Act; and the whole sum might be
expended in aiding emigration and such colonisation as Dr Boyter
describes. Nay, I am persuaded that few of the subscribers to the
Highland Destitution Fund would scruple to renew their
subscriptions, provided they had any security that the Highland
proprietors, thus relieved of a portion of their population, would
really exert themselves to develop the resources _now known to
exist_ in their country, and so maintain the remainder without
farther claims on the rest of the community. But I cannot think it
reasonable or right, that while we have periodical returns of
destitution in the Highlands, demanding aid from all parts of the
country and from the colonies, to prevent many deaths by famine, a
Highland proprietor should be enabled to advertise a property for
sale, at the upset price of L48,000, and to state as an inducement
to purchasers, that the _whole_ public burdens are L40 a-year.
(See advertisement of sale of lands in Skye, _Edinburgh Courant_,
Sept. 16, 1847.) I should think it highly imprudent for the
Committee intrusted with that money for the benefit of the poor in
the Highlands, to part with it for any kind of emigration,
excepting on _two_ express conditions: 1. That agents appointed by
the Committee, unprejudiced and disinterested, (and probably
better judges on the point than Captain Eliott and Dr Boyter
cannot be found,) shall report on